Class Notes

1970s

Ken Bragg '72 was appointed by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Arkansas State Board of Education. Bragg received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.

Gayle Stephens '72 was awarded a Lifetime Friend's Membership by the Friends of Kountze Public Library. Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

Cliff Todd '74 was appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Sabine River Authority board of directors. Todd received a Bachelor of Science in general agriculture.

Brian '77 and Kristine Carrow Kissell '77 traveled to the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, British Columbia, to leave a little bit of SFA spirit. There are over 100,000 signs in the forest. Both Brian and Kristine received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

Patricia Taylor Wells '77 published her book, "Maple Point," in January. Wells received a Bachelor of Arts in French.

1980s

Todd Zurik '80 received his certified reverse mortgage professional designation in August 2023. Approximately 250 loan originators in the U.S. have this designation. He has been in the Mortgage Industry for over 30 years. Zurik received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.

Gordon Betts '81 retired from Tyler Junior College after 18 years teaching human anatomy and physiology. Betts received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Colleen Coman Durham '83 retired from teaching and coaching after 38 years as a middle school teacher. She spent 12 years in Pecos, Texas, and 26 years in Del Rio, Texas. Durham received a Bachelor of Science in physical education.

Donnie Pitchford '83 was inducted to the Carthage Main Street Arts Walk of Fame. Pitchford received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art.

Neal Franklin '84 was sworn in as Smith County judge in November 2022. Franklin received a Bachelor of Science in education with an emphasis in physical education.

Tina McGuffin '84 & '92 was named executive director of the Harrison County Historical Museum. McGuffin received a Bachelor of Science in vocational home economics and a Master of Education in early childhood education.

Michael "Shane" Allen '85 & '01 received his CompTIA Security+ certificate. He is a lecturer in Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City's Information Systems and Technologies Department. Allen received a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Master of Business Administration in general business.

Nancy Barlar '85 was named Dallas Market Center's senior executive director of new business. Barlar received a Bachelor of Arts in communication.

Mona Kamel Bryner '85 retired in May after decades working in multiple industries, including dining, automotive, tax, insurance and higher education. Bryner received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

Hudson Holmes '85 was named 2023 Realtor of the Year in the Galveston County Daily News Readers Choice Awards. Holmes received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.

Robert Belt '88 of Houston was appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the State Securities Board. Belt received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.

1990s

Roland "Buddy" Timme '90 was named director of parks and recreation for the City of Lufkin. Timme received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Dr. Logan Faris '93, '95 & '06 of Leander, Texas, has been named an area superintendent with Round Rock Independent School District. Faris received a Bachelor of Science in biology, a Master of Education in secondary education and a Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in educational leadership.

Adalberto Garcia Jr. '93 was named El Paso Independent School District's superintendent of elementary schools. Garcia received a Master of Education in secondary education.

Dr. Roel Lopez '93 received the Conservation Trailblazer Award from the Dallas Safari Club, which celebrates the significant contributions of wildlife professionals to game and nongame wildlife conservation. Lopez received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.

Bart Blair '94 was named chief financial officer for Carthage Independent School District. Blair received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.

Dave Conger '94 was named national sales manager for CERATIZIT's west region. Conger received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.

David Garza '94 was named chief of police for the Lufkin Independent School District. Garza received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice law enforcement.

Dr. Tyrone Sylvester '94 received the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators. Sylvester received a Bachelor of Music.

Paulette Hartman '95 was named city manager of North Richland Hills. Hartman received a Bachelor of Arts in public administration.

Sharon McLain Jones '95 & '98 was named executive director of The Blake, a luxury assisted living and memory care community in Tyler, Texas. Jones received a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness and a Master of Science in general agriculture.

Byron Wilkinson '97 was named president and general manager of KVUE, TEGNA's ABC affiliate serving Austin. Wilkinson received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

2000s

Ayo Taylor-Dixon '00 & '02 was named deputy athletic director for strategic communications and brand advancement at San Diego State University. Taylor-Dixon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Jennifer Wade Winston '00 was appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Winston received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and is a former member of the SFA board of regents.

Cassidy Lakota '02 was named the 2022-23 Texas Girls Coaches Association's Cheerleading Assistant Coach of the Year. She most recently accepted the position as head cheerleading coach at Birdville High School. Lakota received a Bachelor of Science in health science.

Dr. Brett A. Richardson '02 was recently appointed director of bands and Baenziger Professor of Music at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. Richardson received a Bachelor of Music in music education.

Darla Nolen '03 was named superintendent of Academy Independent School District. Nolen received a Master of Education in educational leadership.

April Sarpy '04 was named administrative services director with Mesquite Independent School District. Sarpy received a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Katie (Clark) Mulligan '06, a reactive chemicals subject matter expert for Dow Chemical, was named a 2023 Rising Star of Safety by the National Safety Council. Mulligan received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.

Anjuli Crouch '07 was awarded the prestigious Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award from the Kinder Foundation in August. This award highlights the accomplishments of individuals working in education and reinforces the important relationship between educational opportunity and a healthy, dynamic society. Crouch received a Bachelor of Science in child development and family living.

Corey Graves '07 was one of 30 teachers honored by the Country Music Association Foundation during its seventh Music Teachers of Excellence Ceremony. He works at Tony A. Jackson Middle School in Forney Independent School District. Graves received a Bachelor of Music.

Brandon '07 and Jessika Jefferson '12 of Houston announced the April birth of Zora Jefferson. Brandon received a Bachelor of Science in biology, and Jessika received a Bachelor of Arts in radio/TV.

Chris Skinner '07 was named 2023 Region 12 Superintendent of the Year. He is superintendent for Teague Independent School District. Skinner received a Master of Education in educational leadership.

Jonathan Patke '08 was hired as a defensive coordinator for Duke University's football program. Patke received a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.

Amber Burda '09 was named chief revenue officer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Burda received a Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration.

Francesca Chacon '09 & '11 announced the November 2023 birth of son, Luca Rocky Chacon. Chacon received a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Taylor Kovar '09 of Lufkin, Texas, has been named an Investopedia Top 100 financial advisor for 2023. Kovar received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.

Dr. Josh Nation '09, '13 & '17 was named principal of Davis Ninth Grade School in Aldine Independent School District. Nation received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Master of Education in educational leadership and Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in educational leadership.

Monique Davis Williams '09 of Pearland, Texas, was named Welcome Center director at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies.

2010s

Walter Tacquard '10 became a police sergeant with the Nacogdoches Police Department in 2023. Tacquard received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Aaron and Jessica Winder '10 of Las Vegas, Nevada, announce the July birth of Navy Rose and Savannah Grace. Jessica received a Bachelor of Science in psychology.

Tim Knicky '11 — former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals — was named athletic coordinator and head football coach for Legacy Ranch High School. Knicky received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Sylvia Balew '12 of Kirbyville was named a disaster assessment and recovery agent for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service's District 14. Balew received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in agriculture development and production.

Colleen Embersics '13 of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was named chief veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at the Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and has since opened the long-awaited LSU Neurology and Neurosurgery Service. Embersics received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Justin Ikpo '13 had his work as a photographer featured in Shoutout DFW magazine. Photography is a passion project he undertakes when he's not working full time as a communication specialist with the Texas A&M University School of Law. Ikpo received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and secondary education.

Jenny Peters '13 was selected as the Department of Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars recipient of the VFW Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Program for 2022-23. Her nomination went to the state level, where she was named the Texas Smart/Maher Elementary Teacher of the Year. Peters received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Chad Lancaster '14 and wife, Alesha, opened the restaurant Sailer's Place Café and Bakery in Florence, Texas, named after their daughter, Sailer. Lancaster received a Bachelor of Science in psychology.

Lisa Sprague '14 was named the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health agent for Hopkins County. Sprague received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Norris White Jr. '15 was recognized by Humanities Texas as a 2023 commended teacher. White received a Master of Arts in history.

Jon '16 and Emma (Carr) Godeaux '19 were married Oct. 1 in Dallas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in business economics, and Emma received a Bachelor of Science in mass communication.

Mackenzie '17 & '17 and Spencer Blackwell welcomed their son Nixon Taylor Blackwell Aug. 3. Mackenzie received a Bachelor of Business Administration in public accountancy and a Master of Professional Accountancy.

Jacob Lusk '17 was named director of career and technical education for Pine Tree Independent School District in Longview, Texas. Lusk received a Bachelor of Arts in mass media.

Jake '17 and Meagan (McNabb) Miserak '17 celebrated the birth of Miles Bradley Miserak Sept. 18. Jake, the son of Mark '87 and Connie (Page) Miserak '88, received a Bachelor of Science in communication studies; and Meagan received a Bachelor of Science in interior design.

Frankston Elementary School received the 2023 National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education for exemplary achievement in gap closing. Pictured receiving the award in a Washington, D.C., ceremony are SFA alumnae Melanie Blackwell '17, who received a Master of Education and is principal of Frankston Elementary School; Melissa Wimmer '18, who received a Master of Education and is assistant principal of Frankston Elementary School; and Paige Nicole "Nicci" Cook '94 & '98, who received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and Master of Education and is superintendent of Frankston Independent School District.

Caitlyn '19 and Connor Vilven '19 announce the February birth of their first child, Claire Alayne Vilven. Photo taken by fellow alumna, Sarah Ware '19. Caitlyn received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, and Connor received a Bachelor of Business Administration in international business.

2020s

Stacie Simmons '20 of Euless, Texas, became an LGBT crisis counselor for the new national suicide hotline 988. Simmons received a Bachelor of Social Work.

Brooke '21 and Cade Brewster '22 married Dec. 23 before road-tripping to New York City to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop. Brooke received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, and Cade received a Bachelor of Science in computer science.

JoNae Malbrough '22 was hired by ESPN and nominated for a sports Emmy during her first year working with "NFL Live." She also was interviewed by The Official Black Magazine, and the article was published in June 2023. Malbrough received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication.